Joy-Conare the primarycontrollersof theNintendo Switchvideo game console. They consist of two individual units, each containing ananalog stickand an array of buttons. They can be used while attached to the main Nintendo Switch console unit, or detached and used wirelessly; when detached, a pair of Joy-Con can be used by a single player, or divided between two as individual controllers.

Design

Joy-Con are distributed in pairs, designated as "Joy-Con L" and "Joy-Con R" respectively. They each measure 35.9 by 102 by 13.9 millimetres (1.41 in × 4.02 in × 0.55 in), and the Joy-Con L and R weigh 49 grams (1.7 oz) and 52.1 grams (1.84 oz), respectively. When measured from the top of the analog stick to the tip of the ZL/ZR trigger it has an extreme depth of 28.4 millimetres (1.12 in).

Joy-Con can be attached to the sides of the Switch console via rails, or detached and used wirelessly—either as a pair (comparable to aWii Remoteand Nunchuk), or divided between two different players. Up to 8 Joy-Con can connect to a single Switch Console at a time.The Joy-Con can be optionally attached to a "Joy-Con Grip" accessory, with or without charging capabilities, that convert the controllers to a more traditionalgamepad-like form factor.

When detached from the console, both Joy-Con units operate autonomously of each other, and communicate with the console viaBluetooth.Joy-Con straps can be attached when the Joy-Con are detached from the console; the straps are slid onto the Joy-Con's side rails. Due to the 14.5 mm (0.57 in) in added thickness they can help with comfort while the Joy-Con are held individually as the base of the straps widen the face of the controller and also raise the shoulder buttons used when the Joy-Con is held sideways.

Joy-Con contain non-removable 3.7 volt 525 mAh 1.9 watt hourlithium-ion polymerbatteries; they are charged when attached to a Switch Console that itself is charging. A separate "charging grip" accessory allows the controllers to be charged in a gamepad configuration viaUSB-C.Nintendo released a Joy-ConAA batterypack attachment on June 16, 2017, with it sliding onto the Joy-Con similarly to the wrist strap attachments.

Features

The feature set of the Joy-Con was partially inspired by feedback from players using theWii Remote, according to Nintendo'sShinya Takahashi. After releasing games that heavily used the Wii Remote with the Wii, such asWii SportsandWii Fit, players had asked for different design features, such as having a smaller form factor, or being able to be strapped to a part of the body. Nintendo envisioned what benefits towards innovative design and gameplay could come from a smaller form factor, which led to the idea of a console that could be portable, controlled through these smaller controllers. This became the fundamental principle of the Switch, and directly into the Joy-Con design.

Both controllers contain a clickable analog stick, four face buttons, two top buttons, two side buttons accessible when detached (which become shoulder buttons when held horizontally) and designated as SL and SR a + or - button, a sync button, and player indicator lights. Joy-Con L contains directional buttons, a - button, top buttons designated as L and ZL and a screenshot button, which enables the player to upload screenshots to social media. In an update released in October, 18th, 2017, the screenshot button is also able to record up to 30 seconds of gameplay in select games. Joy-Con R contains A, B, X and Y buttons, a +button, top buttons designated as R and ZR and a Home button.

Each Joy-Con contains anaccelerometerandgyroscope, which can be used formotion tracking.Games can support using the Joy-Con for pointing controls similar to the Wii Remote while detached without the need of a sensor bar.Joy-Con R contains an infrared depth tracking sensor, which can read objects and motions held in front of it; as an example of its functionality, Nintendo stated that the sensor could distinguish between the hand shapes ofrock–paper–scissors.Joy-Con R also contains anear-field communicationreader for use withAmiibo.

The Joy-Con contain ahaptic feedbackengine known as "HD Rumble", which was developed in partnership withImmersion Corporation. Nintendo stated that the system could generate fine tactile feedback, such as the sensation of individual ice cubes and water in a glass